Device for performing a standing plank exercise

ABSTRACT

A device for performing a standing plank exercise includes an elongated main body having a first axial end and an oppositely disposed second axial end. The main body has at least two telescoping members that may be adjusted to vary the length of the main body and the corresponding degree of stress provided by the exercise or to adjust for the user&#39;s height. The device includes a support pad positioned at a fulcrum or pivot point on the elongated main body between the first axial end and the second axial end. A handle portion is mounted to or extends from the main body and is graspable by a user. An ankle strap is coupled to the elongated main body in proximity to the second axial end thereof and may encircle the ankles of a user. The device is oriented substantially vertically during an exercise regimen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to exercise equipment, and more particularly relates to devices for assisting with manual body stress exercises.

Description of the Prior Art

The plank exercise is a popular exercise that stresses the core muscles of the body such as the abdomen, lower back and upper legs. The plank exercise is utilized in a variety of exercise routines and is common in yoga studios and fitness classes. In fact, plank exercises are also often utilized by professional athletes.

The plank exercise is relatively simple. As can be seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B of the drawings, the exercise is performed by maintaining the body in a straight position, like a “plank” of wood, while the body is supported by the forearms and feet. In the traditional plank exercise illustrated by FIG. 1A, both feet of the person rest on the floor or ground, while in the modified plank exercise illustrated by FIG. 1B, one foot engages the floor or ground and the ankle of the persons other leg rests atop the supporting leg. When performing a plank exercise, fitness enthusiasts attempt to maintain the plank position for as long as possible until failure. By maintaining the challenging plank position, the core muscles are stressed and subsequently strengthened.

A traditional plank exercise is performed while lying on the floor. The degree and location of stress and strengthening that can be obtained from a traditional plank exercise is limited by the distance between the forearms and feet of the user, as well as the relative angle created between the user and the ground. Accordingly, since the distance between a user's forearms and feet is generally unchangeable, the degree and location of stress and strengthening accomplished by plank exercises is restricted. Furthermore, the conventional plank exercise places as much stress on the shoulders and arms as on the core muscles, and thus does not effectively target the core muscles.

The present invention provides a novel apparatus that enables a user to perform a plank exercise while standing.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for performing a standing plank exercise.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for performing a standing plank exercise that focuses the exercise on the user's core muscles.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device for performing a standing plank exercise which is selectively adjustable in length to vary the degree of stress placed on the user during the exercise.

In one form of the present invention, a device for performing a standing plank exercise includes an elongated main body having a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a first axial end and a second axial end. A support pad that supports a user's back is positioned on the elongated main body between the first axial end and second axial end thereof.

The device preferably further includes an ankle strap coupled to the elongated main body in proximity to the second axial end thereof which selectively joins the elongated main body to a portion of the body of the user.

The elongated main body is preferably formed as at least two telescoping members that may be selectively extended and retracted within one another to vary the length of the elongated main body and the corresponding degree of stress placed on the user during the exercise.

In another form of the present invention, the device for performing a standing plank exercise may include a handle portion positioned perpendicularly to the elongated main body in proximity to the first axial end thereof, the handle portion being graspable by the user during the exercise.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a left perspective view of a user performing a traditional plank exercise.

FIG. 1B is another left perspective view of a user performing a traditional plank exercise.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a device for performing a standing plank exercise formed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top left perspective view of the device for performing a standing plank exercise formed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a left perspective view of the device for performing a standing plank exercise formed in accordance with the present invention, showing the device positioned on the user.

FIG. 5 is another left perspective view of the device for performing a standing plank exercise formed in accordance with the present invention, showing the device positioned on the user.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device for performing a standing plank exercise formed in accordance with the present invention, showing the device positioned on the side of the user.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the device for performing a standing plank exercise formed in accordance with the present invention, showing the device positioned on the front side of the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the standing plank exercise device 2 formed in accordance with the present invention includes an elongated main body 4 in the form of a solid or tubular post and having a first axial end 6 and an oppositely disposed second axial end 8. Padding or a cushion 10 may be wrapped around or secured to the elongated main body 4 to provide comfort for the user's body. The padding or cushion 10 is preferably selectively positionable on the elongated main body 4 between the first end 6 and second end 8 thereof. For example, the padding or cushion 10 may be positioned approximately midway between the first end 6 and the second end 8 of the elongated main body 4 to provide comfort to the user's lower back and buttock area when the device 2 is positioned for use. Even more preferably, the cushion 10 is positioned at a pivot point or fulcrum on the elongated main body 4 during performance of standing plank exercisers, as will be realized from the further description of the device 2 and its operation. The padding or cushion 10 may include an adjustable clamp mechanism (not shown), for example, which engages the main body 4 to hold the cushion 10 in a desired position on the main body 4.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the device 2 may further include a handle portion 12 positioned in proximity to the first end 6 of the elongated main body 4, the handle portion 12 generally being oriented perpendicularly to the axis of the elongated main body 4. The handle portion 12 may be formed as a cross-member affixed perpendicularly to the elongated main body 4 in proximity to the first end 6 thereof. The handle portion 12 may be covered by padding or other material so that a user's hands may securely and comfortably grip the handle portion 12 during use.

As can be seen in FIGS. 4-7 of the drawings, to utilize the device 2, a user positions the elongated main body 4 behind him in a vertical orientation with the padding or cushion 10 against his lower back and buttock region. A strap, such as a non-elastic or elastic band 14, preferably forming part of the exerciser 2, may be affixed to the exerciser 2 or just wrapped around the second end 8 of the elongated main body 4 and, in use, engages one ankle or both ankles 16 of the user. Accordingly, three contact points are created with the user's body (i.e., two contact points between the user's ankles and the elastic band 14, and one contact point between the cushion 10 and the lower back region of the user). The user then outstretches his arms towards the first end 6 of the elongated main body 4 and grasps either the elongated main body 4 with his hands, as shown in FIG. 4, or the handle portion 12, as shown in FIG. 5. To perform the standing plank exercise, the user holds the elongated main body 4 from behind and exerts a forward directed force (the forward directed force is shown by the arrow and corresponding reference number 18 in FIG. 5 of the drawings). The strap or elastic band 14 that couples the user's ankles to the elongated main body 4 provides resistance to the forward directed force 18 applied to the first end 6 of the elongated main body 4, thereby creating force across the abdominal and core musculature of the user during the exercise.

The user can control how much force is applied to his abdominal and core musculature by varying the amount of forward directed force applied to the first end 6 of the elongated main body 4 against the bias of the elastic band 14. For example, beginners can apply less force and advanced users can apply more force to vary the degree of strain of the exercise. The greater the force applied to the elongated main body 4 by the user's hands, the greater the force generated across the abdominal and core musculature of the user. Furthermore, the user can also increase the amount of force generated across the abdominal and core musculature by grasping the handle portion 12 and applying forward directed force thereto, which increases the moment arm of the force applied and generates a greater force across the abdominal and core musculature of the user.

The user can also perform a number of alternative plank exercises with the device 2 formed in accordance with the present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, a “superman plank” exercise can be performed by grasping the handle portion 12 and applying forward directed force thereto. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, a “side plank” exercise can be performed by positioning the plank exercise device 2 against the user's side, the cushion 10 resting against the user's hip, and drawing the upper portion 6 of the elongated main body 4 toward the user, this exercise works the side muscles of the core and abdomen. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, a “reverse plank” exercise can be performed by positioning the plank exerciser 2 in front of the user and pulling the upper end portion 6 of the main body 4 toward the user; this exercise works the lower back and upper leg muscles.

The elongated main body 4 may also be formed so that its length may be selectively adjusted by a user. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the elongated main body 4 may be formed as a tubular member having at least a first telescoping member 20 and a second telescoping member 22. The first telescoping member 20 preferably has an inner diameter that is greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the second telescoping member 22 so that the second telescoping member 22 may be received by and slide reciprocatingly within the first telescoping member 20. A reducer 24, which effectively reduces the inner diameter of the first telescoping member 20 and may tighten against the first telescoping member 22 received thereby, preferably interconnects the first telescoping member 20 and the second telescoping member 22 and is fitted therebetween to align and center the second telescoping member 22 at least partially within the first telescoping member 20, and preferably may be used to lock the two members 20, 22 in place. The second telescoping member 22 may be selectively extended and retracted from the first telescoping member 20 to vary the overall length of the elongated main body 4.

The first and second telescoping members 20, 22 may further include means for engaging one another to fix the elongated main body 4 to a desired length. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the first telescoping member 20 may include one hole or a plurality of spaced apart holes 26 formed along at least a portion of the axial length thereof that may be aligned with one hole or a plurality of spaced apart holes 28 formed along at least a portion of the axial length of the second telescoping member 22. Once the elongated main body 4 has been adjusted to a desired length (i.e., by selectively extending or retracting the second telescoping member 22 from the first telescoping member 20), a pin 30 or other fixation device may be inserted through the holes 26 formed in the first telescoping member 20 and through the corresponding aligned holes 28 formed in the second telescoping member 22 to engage and lock the first and second telescoping members 20, 22 together in a desired overall length. Alternatively, the first telescoping member 20 may be formed with a plurality of detents or other protrusions (not shown) that may engage the holes or recesses or dimples (not shown) in the second telescoping member 22 once aligned. Of course, it is envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention to use other means to lock the telescoping members 20, 22 together. Furthermore, it is also envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention to have the first and second telescoping members 20, 22 configured so that the first telescoping member 20 is received by the second telescoping member 22 and may be selectively extendable therefrom and retractable therein. During use, a user may adjust the device 2 to a variety of different lengths to provide different degrees of stress as well as provide the device 2 with the ability to be stored in a compact state.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for performing a standing plank exercise, which comprises: an elongated main body, the elongated main body having a first axial end and a second axial end situated opposite the first axial end; a support pad, the support pad being situated on the elongated main body between the first axial end and second axial end thereof; and an ankle strap, the ankle strap being operatively coupled to the elongated main body in proximity to the second axial end thereof, the ankle strap being selectively engageable with a portion of the body of a user; wherein the support pad is placed against the body of a user and the ankle strap engages the user's leg when the device is being used by the user.
 2. A device for performing a standing plank exercise as defined by claim 1, which further comprises: a handle portion, the handle portion being affixed to the elongated main body in proximity to the first axial end thereof and extending outwardly therefrom, the handle portion being graspable by the hands of the user.
 3. A device for performing a standing plank exercise as defined by claim 2, wherein the handle portion is formed as a cross-member that is perpendicularly situated on the elongated main body.
 4. A device for performing a standing plank exercise as defined by claim 2, wherein the elongated main body includes opposite lateral side surfaces, and wherein the handle portion is formed as a pair of diametrically opposing posts that extend outwardly from the opposite lateral side surfaces of the elongated main body.
 5. A device for performing a standing plank exercise as defined by claim 1, wherein the elongated main body comprises at least a first telescoping member and a second telescoping member, the second telescoping member being at least partially receivable within the first telescoping member and being selectively extendable therefrom and retractable therein to adjust the overall length of the elongated main body.
 6. A device for performing a standing plank exercise as defined by claim 5, which further comprises: a reducer, the reducer being interconnected between the first telescoping member and the second telescoping member to center and align one of the first and the second telescoping members at least partially within the other of the first and second telescoping members.
 7. A device for performing a standing plank exercise as defined by claim 5, wherein at least one of the first telescoping member and the second telescoping member has at least one hole formed therein, and at least the other one of the first telescoping member and the second telescoping member has a plurality of spaced apart holes formed therein and at least partially along the axial length thereof, and wherein the overall length of the elongated main body may be fixed by aligning selected holes in the first telescoping member and the second telescoping member and inserting a pin therethrough.
 8. A device for performing a standing plank exercise as defined by claim 5, which further comprises: means for adjustably locking the first and second telescoping members in a relative position to one another.
 9. A device for performing a standing plank exercise as defined by claim 1, wherein the ankle strap is formed as an elastic band. 